St Margaret’s holds a Service for the New Parliament

Wednesday, 8th January 2020

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, gave the Address at Service for the New Parliament at St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey on Wednesday 8th January 2020.

The service, which was attended by MPs, peers and parliamentary staff, was conducted by the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster.

The Right Honourable The Lord Fowler, the Lord Speaker, read Jeremiah 29: 1–7; and the Right Honourable Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, read Ephesians 3: 1–12.

The Archbishop of Canterbury gives the Address

The Lord Speaker reads Jeremiah 29: 1–7

The Speaker of the House of Commons reads Ephesians 3: 1–12

The Dean of Westminster gives the Blessing

Prayers were led by the Reverend Christopher Stoltz, Minor Canon and Precentor of Westminster, and said by: the Reverend and Right Honourable The Baroness Sherlock OBE; the Reverend Dr Martyn Atkins, Superintendent Minister, Methodist Central Hall; the Reverend Mark Harris, Chaplain, Christians in Parliament APPG; and Canon Pat Browne, Roman Catholic Duty Priest in Parliament.

The service was sung by the Choir of St Margaret's conducted by Greg Morris, Director of Music. The organ was played by Matthew Jorysz, Assistant Organist, Westminster Abbey.

Standing between Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster, St Margaret's Church has long had links with Parliament and is often called 'the parish church of the House of Commons'.

Order of Service for A Service for the New Parliament, 2020 (PDF, 346KB)